Basic Models of Animal Cognition - Part 1

Explore the fascinating world of animal cognition in this first part of a three-part lecture series presented by Erica Cartmill from Indiana University Bloomington. Delve into the common challenges faced by all species on Earth, including navigation, food acquisition, mate selection, risk assessment, and danger avoidance. Examine how different animals have evolved unique solutions to these shared problems, with some resembling human approaches while others diverge radically. Gain insights into the scientific methods used to measure and test animal cognition in both field and laboratory settings. Learn about the ways social species tackle the additional complexities of measuring, tracking, and testing relationships with others. Discover how animals explore and exploit resources, learn from past actions, and predict future outcomes. This comprehensive lecture, part of IPAM's Mathematics of Intelligences Tutorials, offers a deep dive into the fundamental models of animal cognition and sets the stage for further exploration in subsequent parts of the series.